Robustness analysis of crosstalk-based hardware Trojans and relevant algorithms to nonideal positioning

Abstract

In a previous work, the possibility to eavesdrop digital signals transmitted along differential interconnects was explored by resorting to sensing loop(s), operated as hardware Trojans placed in close proximity of the data lines. To maximize coupling, ideal (i.e., symmetric) positioning of the receiving loop(s) with respect to the differential interconnect was considered. However, since in practice misalignment between the two circuits may occur, this work investigates robustness of the eavesdropping algorithms to possible geometrical deviations from the ideal (symmetric) configuration. Here, the objective is to assess accuracy of the proposed methods in reconstructing the original waveforms even in case of nonideal positioning of the receiving loop(s).